As heard on the Summer of Miles podcast, the “Neapolitan Umstead” Sir Walter Running Challenge is here! What does Neapolitan Umstead mean? The three most accessible trails, of course. Loblolly, Reedy Creek, and Company Mill (sorry Sycamore). Here’s the “Official” Strava segment.

This one is not about speed over the course, but about speed of GETTING IT DONE! The first 10 to complete the segment will get a Summer of Miles Tank Top! Unisexy Sizes are limited, so first run, first served. Details below….

If you’ve been to Umstead before, the route is pretty simple. Park in the Harrison Avenue Parking Lot (2100 N Harrison Ave, Cary, NC 27513) and start at the Loblolly Trail sign (below):

If you’re not sure if you’ve found the right sign, just look on the back of it (we tagged it). It’s on the right side of the parking lot:

It won’t be too long before you face the first challenge, a creek crossing via log (there are a few other ways to get over as well. Be Careful!):

You’ll run the 2.2 miles from the Parking lot to the Reedy Creek Trail (crushed gravel, double track, horse trail), where you’ll turn left and head slightly down the hill (before going up). If you cross over the horse trail and continue onto Loblolly, you’ve gone too far.

After going up a long slow hill for nearly 2 miles from that turn off Loblolly, you’ll turn left onto the Company Mill Trail.

Before too long, you’ll hit a shaky bridge. Once again, go left and cross the creek!

The final mile will come to a close when you start to see the water fountain. But make sure you get there!

THE FINISH LINE IS THE WATER FOUNTAIN. Don’t quit until you get there, or your run may not register with Strava!

And once you’re done, your time should register below! When it does, email us with your unisex tank top size preference. As long as we have some left, we’ll tell you where to pick it up (or we’ll deliver, if you’re close). We’ll update the sizes left here (as fast as we can). Go get it!

The “Dix 2000” is our second challenge. What does that mean? It’s the Dix 2000 meters, or 1.25 miles for us Yanks. Start by going down the hill on Biggs Drive. The road will vear left, and then go across the train tracks. You’ll go up a little hill and then TAKE A LEFT ON RUGGLES DRIVE. This is the only tricky turn, but there’s a sign, so keep your head on a swivel. You’ll run into Umstead Drive, where you’ll take another left, and then Blair Drive when you’ll take yet another slight left, and run up the hill to the finish. Make sure and make that last turn to end at the stop sign!

First off, we’re trying to raise awareness to bring some markers to that big grass loop at Dix. Pat’s idea to bring markers every 100 meters on the edge of the grass on the Big Field and Williams Field to make a mile loop is one of the finalists in the iDEA RALEIGH campaign, AND WE NEED YOUR HELP!

Voting goes through May 31 and there is some stiff competition. So go to http://idea.raleighnc.gov/ and look to the right at the “Activate Dix” section and please vote for “Dix Mile Markers.” You can vote with every email address you have, and they WILL NOT SPAM YOU!

Now… What do I win?

We’ll give the top Men’s and Women’s times free entry to the Raleigh RunDown Downhill Mile, which takes place closeby on Friday, June 16th. A 7pm start should keep temps cool before you run the “Fastest Mile in NC!” If you participate in this challenge, we’ll give you $5 off the RunDown with code STRAVA. 7pm start. Awards from Runologie. Post-Party at Trophy on Maywood with food trucks. We got your Friday night covered!

June 13, 2016 – Raleigh, North Carolina – After presenting the 2013 Sandman Mile, the 2014 and 2015 Sir Walter Miler, and the 2015 and 2016 Pop Up Miles, Sir Walter Running will be producing their first road race, the Raleigh RunDown Downhill Mile, this Friday, June 17th. The USATF-certified course will take place near NC State’s Centennial Campus, starting by the Oval Drive/Centennial Parkway intersection, and finishing just before the Agriculture Street/Centennial Parkway intersection. The course drops over 130 feet from start to finish.

Athletes will take a “downhill-assisted” shot at their personal best times, and the best known road mile times in North Carolina history, which are held by Christy Cazzola, who ran 4:41 at the 2014 Magnificent Mile, and Sandy Roberts, who ran 3:51 at the 2014 Raleigh Downhill Mile. The top five athletes in the competitive female and male races will also qualify for the 2016 Pop Up Miles Championship; a race in which the winners are allowed a spot to compete in the elite races at the 2016 Sir Walter Miler, which will be held Friday, August 5th at Meredith College. The race is also a qualifier for the USATF NC – State Open Mile Championship for Men and Women.

The schedule for the Raleigh RunDown Downhill Mile includes: Race Day Registration at 5pm (ending at 6:30pm), Women’s Competitive Race at 7pm, Men’s Competitive Race at 7:20pm, a Recreational Run/Walk at 7:40pm, and a Post-Race Party and the Runologie Awards Ceremony at 8:30pm at Trophy Brewing Co. at 656 Maywood Ave, Raleigh, NC 27603.

Salming Running USA will have a “Sprint to the Middle” bonus, which will reward the first athlete in the female and male competitive races a pair of their Race 3 racing flats. Tradition Scarves will also be providing an event specific “bandito” to the first 200 people that register for the race. BaySix USA will be providing race t-shirts.

Packet pickup and registration will be at Runologie (401 Hillsborough St, Raleigh, NC 27603), this Thursday from 5-7pm and Friday from 11am-1pm, and on raceday (from 5-6:30pm by the starting line). Online registration closes at midnight on Thursday.

Parking will be available in nearby NC State Centennial Campus parking lots (map here) and at Trophy Brewing Co. at 656 Maywood Ave, Raleigh, NC 27603.